Havana Alma De Cuba

Came in with a large group of coworkers (about 10 of us) with a reservation and while I was generally happy with the food, I thought the service could have been a tad better.
We ordered about 6 apps to share, and they were VERY small. The servers didn’t do a great job describing the amount (rather than saying «it’s a decent size» why don’t you just tell me the specific number of each item come in an order). So some people missed out on certain things, but it ended up working out okay.
Our co-​worker who couldn’t make it ordered us a round of shots which were supposed to be delivered when we arrived but they didn’t come until right before we were eating our meals.
The apps were all tasty, and for an entrée I had the ropa vieja which was good, but I actually found it to be lacking some seasoning. I’d try something else if I returned. Churros for dessert were delicious.
I’d definitely give it another try with a smaller group so I could get a better sense, since I know sometimes with a large group it’s hard to get the true vibe.

Great Cuban food, very good service, nice ambiance, and a gentleman up front making cigars by hand. Had a great dinner here.
Small place and it fills up, so make a reservation…

Great little hidden gem in New York City. Great food along with a awesome gentlemen making fresh cigars in the front of the restaurant!

Ill leave this pending for now…
Wanted to eat there on new years day for brunch. I have been doing this traditionally for a few years now. When I called to make a reservation, they told me I had to sign a contract, which was strange because I never had to do this before but I like the place so I decided to just not say anything and go with the flow.
When I get there on New years day (01÷01÷16) The host walks me over to the table. Before I even sit down a manager approaches me and tells me about the 1 ½ hr brunch limit in my contract and he was going to «start the clock» when we get our first drinks… Can a get a «hello thank you for eating with us» first? It was not a great welcome.
Eventually my group starts to have our drink and food. To their credit, food is great (this is why I came here in the first place!) when it comes time for the bill, since my whole party didnt show up I felt I still owed it to the SERVER to make sure HE was paid for his time so I approach the MOD and tell him that to please just add the gratuity for the amount that was suppose to be here. He tells me that he will be charging me the full price for the original amount and the gratuity because that is what I signed in the contract. This meant I had to pay for almost 3x the amount that I should have and didnt even get the food for the extra cash that they are getting from me for doing NOTHING!
I didn’t want to make any trouble because I wanted whoever was with me not to worry and have a good time so I take care of the whole check. When the MOD comes back with my card, he tells me my card was accidentally DOUBLE CHARGED for this ridiculous amount but it will go away after the «pending» amount finalizes. He was lucky that I had that much in my account to give him TBH so I told him it was ok, signed the final bill and left.
Now after everything is done pending in my bank account, I see the regular charge for the party and a separate charge of $ 215 in my account! I couldn’t believe after everything, this place was still getting free cash from me. I call today to speak to any MOD to see if this can be fixed and the host informs me there is no MOD until tomorrow… I called before 4pm, how can there be no one in charge for the rest of the night!
I am an operations manager for another café so I am always sympathetic to every place I visit because this is a tough business. That being said, the way this place is operating is unacceptable and someone needs to held accountable for this. I hope I can speak to someone TOMORROW to get this fixed… if that is the case, I will update this… Whoever is running this place needs to make sure that their employees are looking out for the people coming into there restaurant and not just treating them like $$$$$

Sadly, I have eaten in many NYC restaurants where it was clear that no-​one gives a flying fart about your dining experience — and even more sadly, this was one of the worst of those. We came in the other night before theatre across the street, and asked if they would be able to seat, serve and bring us a check in time for us to make our theater curtain. They ASSURED us that they would. A young women started to seat us in a room next door, and failed to let me know as she led me through a dark cold passage that there was a substantial step down — until I had tripped and almost fallen, at which point she told me to «be careful, there’s a step.» Thanks. I should have taken that as a foreshadowing of things to come.
Service was slow and lackluster, despite the fact that we were almost alone in the back room. It was clear when we were finally reduced to begging for our food, since it was now less than half an hour to curtain time, that they had not even put in the order. They finally brought me an almost raw skirt steak (which is inedible even if you like rare meat, as I do — that particular cut needs to be cooked to almost medium lest it be nothing but a tough mass of red wet fibers, so very appetizing) and truly raw brussels sprouts that had seen the inside of a pan for long enough to momentarily pretend to have been sauteed, and some soggy-​wet boiled yucca. My husband got a lump of shredded pork with the same reform-​school yucca and some very sad moro (supposedly black beans and rice). His plate was a far cry from the «roast suckling pig» description on the menu. No bread is served, apparently. A million Cuban abuelitas are crying out at the indignities perpetrated in this place in the name of Cuban food, one of the most savory of Latin/​Caribbean cuisines.
We left, which I wish we’d done long before. In all honesty, it wasn’t just the poor quality, poorly prepared, overpriced food that was the worst part of the evening. It was the uncaring attitude of every single person in the restaurant that was the most demoralizing part of an evening that should have been a lovely night out. We don’t let much spoil our good time, and we make memories together by laughing about such annoyances — but we’d certainly rather spend our time and money in places where folks care enough to give you value, cook something you’d find worth eating, and who take some pride in running a decent establishment.

The restaurant has a nice quiet ambiance in the back. The front area was more lively.
Order:
Yucca fries as an appetizer
Grilled corn as a side
Steak special of the evening as entre
Yucca fries were tasty, not a very large amount.
Grilled corn was split into two, quite delicious.
The steak special was a bit disappointing. The rice and veggies were great but the steak was over done and tough.
Overall, decent meal but a bit pricey.

I was meeting up with a gf for brunch to celebrate her bday and she chose this place and I went along with it. I had looked at previous reviews and most ppl seem to be in love, me not so much.
We met on a Sun right before noon. The décor was simple but impacting. My 1^st thought was «this is quaint». I liked the old Cuba feel of the murals on the wall. We sat in the front by the window and our server came over right away.
The menu is what with beef, pork and items I don’t eat so for me I was very limited. I was not excited to eat anything there. I only ordered because it would appear rude. I eventually went with the Salmon de humado… I think which was more like a make shift omleette with salmon and not much else. It was served with homefries. I was like ok, I guess maybe the homefries would be good. My friend went with the Aroz con Pollo.
What came to the table was a shocker. Literally less than a large potato worth of homefries and literally what appeared to be 2 eggs with 3 tiny ass pieces of Salmon scattered in it.
This place gives it’s culture a bad name. I used to love Havana on 38^th or 37^th between 6^th and 5^th. That placed had the best Cuban food ever but I was shocked to realize they closed. Bummer! For this kind of food I’ll stick to my spot on Forest Hills called Cabana. The folks who run this place should go there to see how Spanish American /​Cuban food is done right.

The $ 10 Sandwich Cubano (Classic Cuban sandwich, roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard pressed on Cuban bread. Served with plantain chips.) was fine, but small & far from memorable.

Perfect little Cuban restaurant. Great live music and the food and drinks are out of this world. The atmosphere made it feel like I was on vacation. All of the wait staff was attentive and friendly. Can’t wait to go back. Old Cuban was my favorite cocktail.

Incredible food. Fine dining service but not stuffy. Great private dining room for a small party or business meeting. Ropa vieja was my favorite! I will be going again.

Home run! I’ve been thrice now, twice for brunch and once for dinner. This place is cute and quaint, yet it’s actually deceptively large and good for big group get togethers.
They have great food, the ropa vieja and skirt steak are both standouts. The maduros are awesome and you get a huge amount for a side dish. The best thing about Brinch is the unlimited cocktail special, which includes a great variety of fun cocktails, including sangria, mimosas and blueberry caipirinhas! The special is for 1.5 hours and they are very good with keeping you refilled. Today we had desserts which I’ve never gotten there. They were amazing! The Empanaditas De Guayaba were so delicious, my whole table really enjoyed. The coconut flan was another standout. Definitely an amazing brunch and dinner spot I will frequent again for sure!

like brunch?
like dranks?
if you love dr-​unch then come to Havana Alma De Cuba.
as summer still exhales its last warm breaths, this West Vill spot provides an awesome garden space to enjoy those fading rays of sunshine and gentle cool breezes of fall. typically you need reservations to brunch here bc of the popularity of this joint. however with the UN and Pope events in play earlier in the week, my friends and i were able to walk in without a res. SWEET! the restaurant plus garden is on the larger size – the garden being the more intimate dining space. i being a first-​timer was wowed by this gem of a spot in the West Village. big thanks to Chuck and Erin for revealing one of their brunch-​eries to me. :)
the décor is classy Cuban. it’s a mix of a fair amount of Cuban and Caribbean themed elements, colors, and materials with some modern. it’s a nice balance of making you feel like you’re in a warmer tempo of Cuba without going over the top in terms of making the dining spaces too busy or eclectic. the different dining spaces have a nice rhythm and balance.
the food is primarily Cuban-​inspired with some other Latin dishes mixed in. the ropas come highly recommended by my fellow dining companions. i opted for a tortilla with crab meat (Tortilla De Cangrejo) – filling and protein packed – and comes with actual Latin home fries! ordered the MAZORCA as well – grilled corn, cheese, and spices. FLAVORS GALORE! brunch entrees range from $ 9 – 14 and they have a large selection of sandwiches as well. side items come in at 4 – 5 bucks each. not baaad at all!
unlimited brunch drinks (for 1.5 hours) offers about 5 – 6 different cocktail choices: mimosas, sangria, rum lemonades, and blueberry caipirinhas rings. the the blueberry caipirinhas were delicious cool and boozy. no complaints. i’d stick with them if i were you! the unlimited drinks rings in at ~$ 12.
the staff is friendly. they made some drink order mistakes but were quick to correct them. if you sit outside there’s going to be a little delay in getting drinks because a waiter isn’t standing outside like they are in the main dining rooms. so if drunkage is your game, you may want to sit inside.
not many bathrooms for such a big restaurant, so plan your bathroom exits accordingly as lines can build up.
if you are looking for Cuban eats, fun times, and draaaanks at brunch time, Havana Alma De Cuba needs to be on your checklist of go-to’s.
drops mic because it’s CAIPIRINHA TIME!
i out.
zzz

Celebrated the bestie’s birthday here last night with a group of 12 and couldn’t ask for a better venue or setting.
Both the host and hostess was warm and welcoming. Our waiter and waitstaff was courteous and professional. All the guests enjoyed all the yummy and well-​prepared dishes. The cocktails were on point. Food came out of the kitchen at a perfect pace. The size of the back room was perfect for keeping a large group of 12 inside a private and more intimate setting. The décor was simple but certainly evoked Cuban flair.
The beef empanadas, garlic shrimp and chorizo appetizers were perfect starters. Everyone enjoyed the Churrasco Steak but the Oxtail over rice was ah-​mazing. And for dessert, the empanadas de guava dessert threw everything over the top…
Highly recommend for private dinners, special occasions or just dinner in general. Thank you again, Chris, for keeping the reservation and contract process simple and pain-​free! We can’t wait to be back…

Meh.
I’ve been back a few times since my first venture here in 2009… and I have less of a reason to return every time.
If you’re looking for a good place to have unlimited drinks for brunch, this is a good place. Don’t expect great food (except their ropa vieja and yuquita frita) or good service. In fact… the service has gotten worse every time, with my last trip here being the worst yet (and also the first time they automatically included gratuity).
There’s better Cuban food in NYC… where the service doesn’t make you want to hurl things.

Like the atmosphere in here on the nights they gave live music. We can for drinks and apps. The margaritas were fine but we did have to order some more tequila to top them off.
We really enjoyed the calamari and maduras. Would come back for a full meal some time.

The favorite dish of the night would have to be the yuca con mojo ($ 5)! Best that I have had because of its beautiful texture. For those who enjoy drinks over dinner, you w ould be happy to know that they have all-​night happy hour featuring cocktails like sangria and margarita at $ 5!
Come on Tuesdays/​Wednesdays, and you will see the cigar maker. Tip him and grab one for yourself! What a treat this place is!

Came here with a girlfriend of mine for brunch on a Saturday afternoon. Surprising, getting a reservation was no problem at all. Their Brunch menu was small, but decent. They also offer unlimited drinks for $ 13.95 for 2 hours, this deal will end exactly at 4pm with no exceptions. (Fair enough) :) Service was good, pretty consistent with their attentiveness and their beverage refills! Food was pretty good as well, I’ve never really had Cuban food, let alone Cuban food for brunch. I will definitely return for their dinner menu!
PROS:
Unlimited boozy brunch for 2hrs
Drinks were strong
Unique items
Affordable/​decent prices
Great service
Cons:
Small brunch menu

«Sometimes the second, third, fourth option is the best»
I found this restaurant on accident while looking for places with unlimited brunch 18 hours before going to brunch. At first, I was a little hesitant with this place because it had available reservations the day before my brunch date. Hell, I was able to make a reservation for Easter Sunday on Good FridayTypically this is rare in Nyc with places that have an unlimited brunch.
Upon walking into the restaurant you may think that it is a small place BUUUUUTTT it had an outdoor section in the back. This is a pleasant surprise for nice weathered days.
This place has a 13 dollar unlimited brunch (1.5 hrs) add on to any of the platos. The blueberry (oddly enough it was pink in color) caipirinha is pretty good and a little strong. The tortilla cangreja is a must have. The portions are a little small and you may have to buy/​spilt a side dish with it. I was kind of surprised that the dish did not come with some kind of carb like home fries. Like, can a dude get a potato with his eggs? The tres leches is just ooooookkkk (it was a little seco/​dry than what I had) mine tastes better and I am not even latin ;)
The service is ok. Our waiter (the shaven head gentleman) was quirky, intense, random and efficient all at the same time. However, I was a little disappointed that he would mot let me order my mimosa without orange juice. .. Sometimes you don’t want vitamin C and sugar.
I highly recommend this place for last minute reservations or if you do not feel like waiting forever for a table at many of the more popular places around Christopher street.

Has matchstick boxes… I love collecting them!
I didn’t enjoy our meal as much as I thought I would. I went with the Pescado Varadero which was the blackened sea bass. The plate looked beautiful and delicious. however the taste was bland. The fish felt overcooked and there was not much flavor to it at all.
I was pretty disappointed. I also had the ceviche to kick it off, but it was mediocre. I always thought ceviche had a raw element to it, but this one was all cooked, and overcooked too!

At first glance, the restaurant may look like a very small with only a few tables. However if need be, they do have a separate room that is hidden away from view.
My party of 11 was escorted through the back of the restaurant, made a right and then another right and walked into another building with a lot more tables.
For appetizers, we had 2x each of the following:
calamares tamarindo (calamari) — sweet and almost nutty
gambas a ajillo (sauteed garlic shrimp) — simply delicious and awesome tasting
montadito de chorizo (sauteed chorizo with toasted baguette) — sweet, not bad
For Entrée: I’ve had the Salmon. It wasn’t bad, but I’ve had better. Would highly recommend the ox tail though. They are packed with flavored!
Music:
The restaurant has live music on Friday night in the main dining room, but that wasn’t available in the «off the grid» dining room. But if you don’t want the loud music, it isn’t too bad.
Service:
The service was great at the very beginning when we were the only ones there. Our water was topped off and our food came quickly. They offer to explained the menu if we had any questions and were very patient. However, when the room became packed towards the later part of the evening when we finished our food and was just chatting away, they stopped topping off our water and weren’t too subtle on the fact that they were wondering when we would leave.
Overall:
Overall, I quite enjoyed the food and would recommend it.